Page 182 of The Coach

Before she can respond, my phone buzzes.

Jackson.

Jackson: Hey. Just saw some live footage of you leaving the school…Are you okay?

My fingers tremble as I type back.

Me: No. But I will be.

Lauren sighs, leaning back. “You need a plan, babe.”

I nod, staring at my phone.

Because one thing is clear.

This isn’t going away.

And neither is Jackson Knox.

I swallow hard, still gripping the steering wheel like it’s the only thing keeping me tethered to reality. Lauren watches me carefully, her concern obvious.

“You gonna be okay?” she asks softly.

I don’t know how to answer that.

Before I can figure it out, my phone rings.

Jackson.

I stare at the screen for half a second before answering.

“Hey,” I manage. My voice is shaky, my emotions still raw from the ambush outside.

“Stay where you are,” he says, his voice firm, no room for argument. “I’m coming to you. We need to talk. In person.”

My breath catches. “Jackson, you don’t have to?—”

“I do.” His voice softens, but there’s still an edge of urgency. “Just wait for me, okay?”

I exhale, my grip on the steering wheel loosening. “Okay.”

The line goes dead.

Lauren lets out a low whistle. “Damn. That man doesnotplay around.”

I shake my head, my heart pounding.

No, he doesn’t.

“So did he mean, like, stay in yourcar?” Lauren jokes.

“I think he thought I was at home. Because I’m not staying here, no,” I say as I turn the key.

“I thought that too.”

And something tells me…this conversation?

It’s about to changeeverything.

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